E x e r c i s e s
1. Comment on the meaning and the form of the modal verb can. Translate the sentences into Russian.
You can see the sea from our bedroom window. (Can is used with a verb of perception expressing ability.)
I’m afraid I can’t come to your party next Friday.
You could join her much later if she wants you to go on the yacht.
I wish he could have a pony on his own.
It can’t be true!
I can’t help laughing.
Where’s Miss Laura? She came out right after me. Where can she be?
How could she have been so cold, so cruel to this adorable creature?
I could always stay up as a child.
Could I pick some roses as well?
Could you stop the car, please, for a moment?
2. Read the situations and write what you would say.
You’ve got a pound note but you need some change. You ask somebody to help you. Can you change a pound/Could you change a pound?
You want to borrow your friend’s camera: What do you say to him/her?
You have a car and you want to give somebody a lift. What do you say?
You have to go to the airport but you don’t know how to get there. You ask a passer-by.
You are telephoning the owner of a flat which was advertised in a newspaper. You are interested in the flat and you want to come and see it today. (Do you think I…?)
You want to leave work early because you have some important things to do. What do you ask your boss? (Do you think I…?)
You want to invite someone to come and stay with you for the weekend.
The person in the next room has some music on very loud. How do you ask him politely to turn it down? (Do you think you…?)
You have to carry some heavy boxes upstairs. Ask someone to help you.
You want your friend to show you how to change the film in your camera. What do you say to him/her?
3. Complete these sentences using the modal verbs can/could or to be able to. Sometimes it is possible to use either; sometimes only to be able to is possible.
George has travelled a lot. He can or is able to speak four languages.
Tom … drive but he hasn’t got a car.
I can’t understand Oscar, I’ve never … understand him.
He was very strong; he … ski all day and dance all night.
The car plunged into the river. The driver … get out but the passengers were drowned.
When you have taken your degree you … put letters after your name?
Don’t try to look at all the pictures in the gallery. Otherwise when you get home you … remember any of them.
Ask Ann about your problems. She should … help you.
I was a long way from the stage. I … see all right but I … hear very well.
I just seem to know nobody who I … ring and say I just feel awful and I haven’t a penny.
We … borrow umbrellas; so we didn’t get wet.
… you walk or did they have to carry you?
4. Arrange each of the following comments using the modal verb can’t into 6 groups according to their basic meaning. (One group will have five comments, the others two each). Think of your own examples.
I can’t believe it.
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I can’t work it out.
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I can’t take it in.
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I can’t bear it.
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I can’t understand it.
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I can’t cope.
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I can’t manage.
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I can’t take it.
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I can’t help it.
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I can’t put it out of my mind.
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I can’t get over it.
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I can’t stand it.
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I can’t stop myself.
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I can’t face it.
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I can’t put up with it.
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5. Fill in the gaps using the modal verbs can/could or to be able to plus a notional verb.
Did you persuade Jennifer? ~ We tried hard but we couldn’t persuade her to come with us.
I can’t sing now but I … very well when I was a child.
He can’t play tennis very well now but he … quite well when he was younger.
When she was at school she … faster than anyone else.
Did they find your house? ~ Yes, it took them a long time but they …
Did you win the match? ~ Yes, it wasn’t easy but I …
Ten years ago I … from one side of the lake to the other.
Did the thief escape? ~ Yes, the policemen chased the thief but he …
I looked everywhere for the book but I …
The fire spread quickly but everyone…
6. Fill in the blanks with a modal verb to talk about unrealized past ability.
We didn’t go out last night. We could have gone to the cinema but we decided to stay at home.
I … to the concert but I changed my mind.
He … the examination but he decided not to.
Fanny … a new car but she hadn’t got enough money.
Frank … me to mend my car but he didn’t want to do it.
Why didn’t you stop all that? You …some way.
Ken … his aunt to the station but he had no driving licence at that moment.
Jack … Edward £50 but he didn’t want to.
7. Use the modal verb can/could followed by the appropriate infinitive.
You can’t have done (not to do) it. I don’t believe it.
She … not (to stay) at her friends all time.
I … (to help) him but I didn’t know he needed help.
Such problems … not (to solve) easily.
How … she (to work) in the garden now? It is already dark.
I simply … not (to refuse). They would have been hurt.
He wasn’t old. … he … not (to be) more than forty.
They … not (to be) sister and brother.
She is too young. She … not (to suffer from) constantly from insomnia.
… he … (to be operated) on?
8. Paraphrase the following sentences using the modal verb can in the meaning of astonishment, uncertainty or doubt.
Is it possible that she is still running a high temperature? – Can/could she be still running a high temperature?
Is it possible that she is still worrying over such a trifle?
Do you believe that they live under bad conditions?
Do you believe that the patient has recovered?
It’s hardly possible that she is in now.
It’s impossible that the child is shivering with cold. He’s warmly
wrapped up.
9. Read the dialogue, single out the patterns with the modal verb can. Comment on emotional colouring of the meanings. Reproduce this dialogue by heart: Think of your own examples.
Marjory is still in hospital.
Good heavens! Can it be true! How awful! (Can is used to express astonishment.)
But they say that tomorrow she will be back home from hospital at last! After fourteen months!
Good gracious! Could she have been actually lying in bed for a year? Poor thing! It’s simply incredible!
Laura is out again! She has gone to the club.
Fancy that now. Can she be enjoying herself when her mother is ill? She could have stayed at home if she were a serious girl.
Do you remember we are going to the concert? If you don’t make haste, we shall be late. We have only half an hour left before the beginning of the concert.
Why? It can’t be half past six now! Your watch is at least ten minutes fast.
And where can I have put my eye-glasses?
Oh, here they are. Don’t make such a fuss. Let’s go!
10. Fill in the following spaces with either can/could or to be able to.
We will be able to hear. Mr. Browns lecture on British art next Tuesday.
I knew this town so I … (to advise) him where to go.
He … (to speak) French very well when he was at school.
I … (to get) his new book last week.
… you (to translate) the text last Friday? ~ No, I … (negative). ~ I … (to translate) it next week.
When the garage had repaired our car we … (to continue) our journey.
At five years old he … (to read) quite well.
11. Translate into English.
Неужели она все еще ждет нас у станции метро?
Неужели она согласна?
Не может быть, чтобы он сказал это.
Неужели он все еще в больнице?
Не могу не смеяться при одном ее виде.
Терпеть не могу быть одной в доме.
Мне ничего не остается, как принять этот факт.
Мне ничего не оставалось, как приютить ее у себя.
Я не мог не восхищаться ее пением.
Не может быть, чтобы он так все легко воспринимал.
Не может быть, чтобы она не узнала нас.
Не может быть, чтобы она нам не доверяла.
Неужели она так и не получила мое письмо?
Неужели так никто и не видел, как он это сделал?
Не может быть, чтобы они не осознали опасность.
Ты можешь взять словарь. Мне он больше не нужен.
Можно мы возьмем Джека с собой?
Нет, малыш, зимой мороженое на улице есть нельзя.
Вы не могли бы продиктовать мне эту страницу?
Вы не могли бы привести свой пример? Нельзя давать примеры только из учебника.
Вы можете сейчас продиктовать письма? – Нет, я собираюсь принять несколько посетителей сейчас.
Вы не могли бы представить меня некоторым из своих коллег?
Когда бы я мог увидеться с вами?
Не могли бы вы передать ему мои наилучшие пожелания?
Unit 3 May/might
The modal verb may has two forms: may for the present tenses and might for the past tenses. The expression to be allowed and to be permitted can be used to supply the missing forms of the verb may: You are to stay in bed until you are allowed to get up.
May is chiefly used to express permission or possibility. It is also used to express uncertainty, criticism, and wish.
§ 1 May/might to express permission
1. May is found:
to grant permission: You may watch TV for as long as you like.
to ask for permission: May I borrow your umbrella, please? It is more polite than Can I borrow your umbrella?
Might is also used, it is very polite and formal but is less common: Might I join you?
NOTE: To be allowed to is also used to ask about permission, yet there is a difference.
Compare: May I take a photo of you? = Will you allow it?
Are we allowed to take photos? = What is the rule?
to refuse permission: You may not put TV оn!
2. To make these sentences past the expression to be allowed is used (not might): I may go today. – I was allowed to go that day.
But might is used when the main verb is in the past: He told me that I might smoke in the room (Reported Speech).
§ 2 May/might to express possibility
1. Both may and might + Present Infinitive are used to express possibility in the present or future. Might is mostly used as a less definitive or more hesitant form of may. It suggests a smaller chance, when you think something is possible but not very likely.
Compare: I may go to London tomorrow. (≈a 50% chance)
Joe might come with me. (≈a 30% chance)
Might must be used:
when the main verb of the sentence is in the past: He said that he might be late that night. (Reported Speech) But: He said, “I may/might be late tonight”.
in conditional sentences: If you poured hot water into, it might crack.
May/might + not means ‘it is possible that it is not …’: It may/might not be true. (=It’s possible that it is not true)
2. May and might + Perfect Infinitive are used in speculations about past actions: He may/might have gone.
Might + Perfect Infinitive is used:
when the main verb of the sentence is in the past: He said/thought that she might have missed the plane;
in sentences with unreal condition: If he had taken the other road we might have arrived earlier.
§ 3 May/might to express wishes, persuasive requests, and criticism
1. May expresses wishes and hopes. May always comes at the beginning of the sentence: May you both be very happy! May God be with you! (Might is not used in this case.)
2. Might is often used to make requests or suggestions in the affirmative clauses: You might try asking your uncle for a job.
3. Might + Perfect Infinitive occurs to talk about the past criticizing something or somebody: You might have helped us. (but you didn’t) It sounds like a reproach.
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